Orolia

Enterprise-Class SecureSync NTP Server

NTP Server Overview

SecureSync® combines Spectracom’s precision GPS master clock technology and secure network-centric approach with a compact modular hardware design in a 1RU chassis to result in a powerful, scalable and flexible NTP appliance.

Supporting a wide variety of network synchronization and management protocols, the base model comes with a built-in 10/100 base-T Ethernet port for network management and high-performance NTP which can serve more than 7,500 NTP requests per second. It includes all the latest functions of NTPv4. It can be deployed in combination with other stratum-1 NTP server(s), can be used in a stratum-2 configuration, and can be expanded through option modules.

SecureSync Details

Options Modules Extend Synchronization Capability

A unique capability of SecureSync is to add hardware options at initial deployment or later as your network grows. An option adds three (3) 10/100/1000 interfaces to deliver NTP to multiple isolated LAN segments at 1 GigE. Two other options add PTPv2 functionality to the unit. One option is for a configurable master/slave PTP operation over a 10/100 network interface. The other is for PTP grandmaster functionality at 1 GigE. Up to six (6) of either types of ports can be added. Each PTP port is configured and operates independently to improve PTP performance since its processor is independent of all others in the system.

Along with precision 10 MHz and 1PPS outputs, all other physical synchronization signals can be generated as options so you can leverage your networking timing deployment to specifi c devices. Many of these signals can be used as references for redundancy or for other applications such as syncing across security boundaries via optical fiber.

Reliability and Scalability Supports All Timing Network Architectures

Several features support reliability and redundancy. Multi-GNSS operation is available as an option to add GLONASS and BeiDou signals to the GPS reference to improve signal availability. SecureSync can also be deployed without the expense of a GPS receiver to operate as a stratum-2 server. Units among the same stratum can be set as NTP peers. Any other timing source can also be a reference such as T1/E1, time code, 1PPS, etc. You set the priority from all the available references. An internal oscillator maintains timing accuracy if all references are lost. Choose from TCXO, 2 types of OCXO and Rubidium.

A Network-centric Approach

SecureSync is a security-hardened network appliance designed to meet rigorous network security standards and best practices. It ensures tamper-proof management and extensive logging. Robust network protocols are used to allow for easy but secure configuration. Features can be enabled or disabled based on your network policies. Installation is aided by DHCP (IPv4), AUTOCONF (IPv6) or SLAAC, and a front-panel keypad and display, and a command-line interface. A modern web browser user interface supports confi guration unit and an optional monitor of synchronization quality throughout the network.

Technical Notes and Briefs

This document is designed to help with the configuration Email Alerts to generate automatic emails when certain events occur on a SecureSync, NetClock, or VersaSync Time Server with 5.1.x software or higher.

NTP (Network Time Protocol) and SNTP (Simple Network Time Protocol) are very similar TCP/IP protocols in that they use the same time packet from a Time Server message to compute accurate time. The procedure used by the Time Server to assemble and send out a time stamp is exactly the same whether NTP (i.e. full implementation NTP) is being used, or if SNTP is being used.

Spectracom NTP services, implemented in its SecureSync and NetClock 9400 platforms, are compatible with an Anycast routing scheme. The NTP over Anycast feature is a combination of the time server’s ability to associate one of its network ports to an Anycast IP address and to remove itself as an available time source if there is a problem with its reference.

Large-scale NTP deployments require consideration for the network’s time synchronization architecture. Network time deployments are usually driven by considerations for reliability, scalability, manageability and security. The capability of modern NTP servers, such as Spectracom SecureSync® and NetClock® time servers, is such that capacity does not impact the design of the synchronization architecture.

This technical note provides a general description of the software routing scheme of a single Spectracom unit with multiple network ports and offers alternative timing hardware deployments if software isolation is insufficient.

White Papers

Typically, applications for timing use GPS as a precise, traceable, high availability, and free source of synchronization. But GPS is not the only satellite in the sky. More and more Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are being developed and deployed. This white paper describes the trend to multi-GNSS using the example of the Russian GLONASS system as a complement to GPS.

The solution for indoor GPS timing. Consisting of an indoor GPS antenna panel, a configuration of Spectracom’s SecureSync® modular GPS time server, and an interconnect cable, Skylight opens new possibilities for accurate GPS time.